This week’s meetings at a glance: AMR billing practices questioned by local attorney

MANCHESTER, NH — Busy week ahead for meeting-lovers at City Hall. Check the calendar below, which includes agendas.

One item of note on the Tuesday night Board of Mayor and Aldermen agenda which may be of interest to the public: a correspondence from Mayor Gatsas received by Attorney Maureen Raiche Manning regarding the billing practices of American Medical Response (AMR), the city’s ambulance service.

According to the letter submitted by Manning (see below) a question is being raised about the disparity between how much AMR charges for transport to a local hospital based on whether a person is insured or uninsured — up to four times more than someone with insurance.

“An uninsured person is charged $1,800-2,400 for a 1-2 mile transport to a local hospital,” writes Manning. She said she questioned that amount, described by AMR as the “contracted rate” with the city. In addition, Manning says that AMR appears to be billing individuals directly for the higher transport amount rather than billing insurance companies, which she characterizes as an “unlawful practice.”

Manning’s letter has been referred to the Committee on Accounts, chaired by Alderman Dan O’Neil.

Also of note for cable subscribers, a correspondence from Xfinity informing the city of fee upcharges for various services and some channel changes anticipated as of January 2016 (see letter below).